In memory of Jen Lindley...
I have always loved the character of Jen Lindley very much, she's my favorite with the exception of the missing Andie McPhee. During the series finale a dying Jen made a video for baby daughter Amy. Here is what she says.
"Hi, Amy, it's mom. Well, by the time you see this, I won't be here anymore, and I know how much that sucks, for both of us. So seeing as how I won't be around to thoroughly annoy you, I thought I would give you a little list of the things that I wish for you. Well, there's the obvious. An education. Family. Friends. And a life that is full of the unexpected. Be sure to make mistakes. Make a lot of them, because there's no better way to learn and to grow, all right? And, um, I want you to spend a lot of time at the ocean, because the ocean forces you to dream, and I insist that you, my girl, be a dreamer. God. I've never really believed in god. In fact, I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to disprove that god exists. But I hope that you are able to believe in god, because the thing that I've come to realize, sweetheart... is that it just doesn't matter if god exists or not. The important thing is for you to believe in something, because I promise you that that belief will keep you warm at night, and I want you to feel safe always. And then there's love. I want you to love to the tips of your fingers, and when you find that love, wherever you find it, whoever you choose, don't run away from it. But you don't have to chase after it either. You just be patient, and it'll come to you, I promise, and when you least expect it, like you, like spending the best year of my life with the sweetest and the smartest and the most beautiful baby girl in the world. You don't be afraid, sweetheart. And remember, to love is to live."
Which made me think of another scene...
Grams: So...did you talk to Jack last night? Did he tell you you were making the biggest mistake of your life?
Jen: What ever happened to "good morning"? Or "have some java"?
Grams: I would never refer to coffee as java. Now, what did Jack say?
Jen: Oh, you know. Stuff. [Coffee grinder starts]
Grams: Could you be a little more specific, please?
Jen: What's that? I'm sorry. I can't hear you over these beans.
Grams: Fine. You want to play games, that's just fine. I'm really not that interested, anyway.
Jen: How would you like to move to Boston?
Grams: Now what kind of nonsense are you talking?
Jen: Nothing nonsensical here at all. Dead serious.
Grams: I know what you're doing, Jennifer. It's one of the reasons I love you so much. You have a big, beautiful heart, but... I will not allow you to do this for me.
Jen: Well, maybe I'm doing it for me. Look, moving to Boston, going away to college, um...it scares me. And somehow, the idea of having you nearby, just to know that you're there, will--you know, it scares me less. So, before you start writing sonnets about my big, beautiful heart, you should know that I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this 'cause my big, selfish heart wants you to be there. So will you please go with me?
Grams: Oh, I don't know. It
"Hi, Amy, it's mom. Well, by the time you see this, I won't be here anymore, and I know how much that sucks, for both of us. So seeing as how I won't be around to thoroughly annoy you, I thought I would give you a little list of the things that I wish for you. Well, there's the obvious. An education. Family. Friends. And a life that is full of the unexpected. Be sure to make mistakes. Make a lot of them, because there's no better way to learn and to grow, all right? And, um, I want you to spend a lot of time at the ocean, because the ocean forces you to dream, and I insist that you, my girl, be a dreamer. God. I've never really believed in god. In fact, I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to disprove that god exists. But I hope that you are able to believe in god, because the thing that I've come to realize, sweetheart... is that it just doesn't matter if god exists or not. The important thing is for you to believe in something, because I promise you that that belief will keep you warm at night, and I want you to feel safe always. And then there's love. I want you to love to the tips of your fingers, and when you find that love, wherever you find it, whoever you choose, don't run away from it. But you don't have to chase after it either. You just be patient, and it'll come to you, I promise, and when you least expect it, like you, like spending the best year of my life with the sweetest and the smartest and the most beautiful baby girl in the world. You don't be afraid, sweetheart. And remember, to love is to live."
Which made me think of another scene...
Grams: So...did you talk to Jack last night? Did he tell you you were making the biggest mistake of your life?
Jen: What ever happened to "good morning"? Or "have some java"?
Grams: I would never refer to coffee as java. Now, what did Jack say?
Jen: Oh, you know. Stuff. [Coffee grinder starts]
Grams: Could you be a little more specific, please?
Jen: What's that? I'm sorry. I can't hear you over these beans.
Grams: Fine. You want to play games, that's just fine. I'm really not that interested, anyway.
Jen: How would you like to move to Boston?
Grams: Now what kind of nonsense are you talking?
Jen: Nothing nonsensical here at all. Dead serious.
Grams: I know what you're doing, Jennifer. It's one of the reasons I love you so much. You have a big, beautiful heart, but... I will not allow you to do this for me.
Jen: Well, maybe I'm doing it for me. Look, moving to Boston, going away to college, um...it scares me. And somehow, the idea of having you nearby, just to know that you're there, will--you know, it scares me less. So, before you start writing sonnets about my big, beautiful heart, you should know that I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this 'cause my big, selfish heart wants you to be there. So will you please go with me?
Grams: Oh, I don't know. It